😐A single person spends $2,406 per month in Rishon Leziyyon vs $1,260 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,660 per month in Rishon Leziyyon vs $2,125 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,913 per month in Rishon Leziyyon vs $2,990 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Rishon Leziyyon costs about 91% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Rishon Leziyyon sits 81% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.47₪69.2
$11.72MX$204
91.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0₪219
$41.89MX$731
69.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.62₪51.2
$10.51MX$183
58.14%
Cappuccino
$3.97₪12.23
$3.59MX$62.5
10.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27₪10.07
$1.51MX$26.31
116.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₪7.34
$0.92MX$15.96
158.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.23₪28.42
$2.96MX$51.6
211.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.61₪26.51
$4.41MX$76.9
95.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04₪6.28
$1.40MX$24.35
45.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39₪7.37
$1.88MX$32.87
27.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05₪9.40
$1.56MX$27.19
95.51%
Eggs
$4.22₪13.01
$2.61MX$45.50
61.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.17₪59.1
$8.32MX$145
130.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.01₪43.15
$8.35MX$146
67.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.73₪60.8
$10.86MX$189
81.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57₪10.99
$2.71MX$47.31
31.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18₪6.71
$1.51MX$26.25
44.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16₪6.64
$1.87MX$32.67
15.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.39₪10.43
$2.19MX$38.19
54.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94₪5.96
$1.86MX$32.40
4.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52₪4.68
$2.23MX$38.90
-31.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.29₪7.06
$1.07MX$18.63
114.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16₪3.57
$1.09MX$18.94
6.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.13₪34.29
$4.19MX$73.0
165.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.40₪25.88
$10.43MX$182
-19.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.05₪9.39
$1.66MX$28.91
83.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12₪9.62
$2.61MX$45.56
19.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01₪6.19
$0.54MX$9.45
272.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.9₪203
$26.16MX$456
151.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.97₪12.23
$3.08MX$53.7
28.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86₪2.66
$2.40MX$41.94
-64.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.80₪98.0
$3.13MX$54.5
915.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01₪6.19
$1.31MX$22.87
53.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.4K₪149.0K
$29.8KMX$519.9K
62.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$48.1K₪148.1K
$23.3KMX$406.8K
106.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$252₪775
$81.3MX$1,418
209.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.35₪31.87
$22.56MX$393
-54.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.26₪102
$30.05MX$524
10.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.1₪219
$52.9MX$923
34.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16₪34.38
$18.39MX$321
-39.31%
Cinema Ticket
$13.67₪42.11
$4.92MX$85.8
177.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$865₪2,666
$201MX$3,502
330.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1K₪31.1K
$5,175MX$90.2K
94.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104₪321
$35.92MX$627
189.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3₪167
$40.13MX$700
35.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120₪370
$79.7MX$1,390
50.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150₪462
$86.5MX$1,508
73.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,169₪3,603
$978MX$17.1K
19.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,037₪3,194
$470MX$8,206
120.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,613₪4,969
$1,651MX$28.8K
-2.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,790₪5,516
$1,203MX$21.0K
48.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,953MX$69.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$6,607MX$115.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rishon Leziyyon
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,144₪9,686
$677MX$11.8K
364.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.4
11.42
-61.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rishon Leziyyon: July 28, 2026
Last update for Playa del Carmen: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,169 in Rishon Leziyyon versus $978 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 365% higher in Rishon Leziyyon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Rishon Leziyyon versus $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $252 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Rishon Leziyyon vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Playa del Carmen cheaper than Rishon Leziyyon?
Yes – Rishon Leziyyon is pricier by about 91%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,609 per month in Rishon Leziyyon and $1,890 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Rishon Leziyyon and in Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,406 in Rishon Leziyyon and $1,260 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 152% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Rishon Leziyyon or in Playa del Carmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,260, than in Rishon Leziyyon at $2,406. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rishon Leziyyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rishon Leziyyon or Playa del Carmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Rishon Leziyyon or Playa del Carmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rishon Leziyyon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Rishon Leziyyon vs other spots: cost of living compared